AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT vs Intel Xeon W-2135 Comparison

Intel Xeon W-2135 and AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT occupy similar positions in the overall performance distribution, with both landing at the 55th percentile among all CPUs. The Intel part averages a benchmark score of 3530, while the AMD chip trails marginally at 3515, a difference of less than one percent. Yet the head-to-head data reveals that these two processors achieve their comparable aggregate results through very different performance profiles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison includes two Cinebench tests, and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT wins both decisively. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the Ryzen 7 3800XT scores 2230 against the Xeon W-2135's 1230, a delta of -44.8 percent from the Intel processor's perspective. That is a substantial margin; the AMD chip delivers roughly 81 percent more multi-threaded performance in this test. The single-core result tells a similar story, though with a smaller gap. The Ryzen 7 3800XT scores 219 in Cinebench R15 single-core, while the Xeon W-2135 manages 173, yielding a -21 percent delta. The AMD processor is ahead by about 27 percent in single-threaded work.

These two benchmark results are the only direct comparisons available, and the data shows a clean sweep for AMD. The wins are not marginal. The multi-core deficit for the Intel part is particularly severe, approaching half its rival's output. The single-core gap, while narrower, still places the Xeon W-2135 firmly behind. It is worth remembering the Xeon W-2135 has its own Cinebench R20 and R23 scores in the broader benchmark set — 5126 multi-core and 723 single-core in R20, and 12205 multi-core and 1723 single-core in R23 — but the Ryzen 7 3800XT has no corresponding entries in those tests, so direct comparison is limited to the R15 results.

The average benchmark scores place both chips within a tight cluster of rivals. The Xeon W-2135's nearest competitors include the Intel Core i3-12300 with an average score of 3532 (delta 0 percent), the Intel Xeon W-1290TE at 3532 (delta -0.1 percent), and the Intel Core i5-10600K at 3533 (delta -0.1 percent). The Ryzen 7 3800XT's closest rivals include the Intel Atom x7213RE at 3520 (delta -0.1 percent), the Intel Core i3-12300T at 3525 (delta -0.3 percent), and the Intel Xeon E-2176G at 3502 (delta 0.4 percent). Notably, each processor lists the other as a nearest rival: the Xeon W-2135 appears in the Ryzen 7 3800XT's rival list with a delta of -0.4 percent, and the Ryzen 7 3800XT appears in the Xeon W-2135's list with a delta of 0.2 percent. The aggregate scores are essentially tied.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen 7 3800XT wins every benchmark where both processors have data. That includes both multi-threaded and single-threaded workloads, as evidenced by the Cinebench R15 results. The AMD chip's 2230 multi-core score against 1230 for the Intel part indicates a commanding lead in heavily threaded applications like 3D rendering, video encoding, and compilation workloads. The 219 versus 173 single-core result shows an advantage in lightly threaded tasks such as everyday desktop responsiveness, legacy applications, and games that rely on one or two threads.

The Xeon W-2135, based on the available data, does not win any direct comparison. However, its benchmark profile extends beyond the head-to-head tests. In Cinebench R20, the Intel processor scores 5126 multi-core and 723 single-core. In Cinebench R23, it reaches 12205 multi-core and 1723 single-core. These results place the Xeon W-2135 in the 55th percentile overall, matching the Ryzen 7 3800XT's percentile. The Intel part's average benchmark score of 3530 is actually 15 points higher than the AMD chip's 3515, suggesting that in some untested workloads, the Xeon W-2135 may hold a slight edge. The data does not specify which benchmarks contribute to that higher average, but the aggregate figure indicates the Intel processor is not uniformly slower.

The Ryzen 7 3800XT also has additional benchmarks not shared with the Intel part. In 3DMark, it scores 6307 with 16 threads, 1475 with 2 threads, 2795 with 4 threads, 4743 with 8 threads, 6294 with max threads, and 748 with a single thread. In Geekbench, it scores 8561 multi-core and 1773 single-core. These results show strong scaling from 2 threads to 16 threads, with the 16-thread score nearly identical to the max-thread score, indicating the processor is fully utilized at 16 threads. The 2-thread score of 1475 is roughly half the 4-thread score of 2795, suggesting efficient thread scaling in lightly threaded scenarios.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT for any workload captured by the head-to-head benchmarks. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, the AMD chip is 44.8 percent ahead of the Intel part. In single-core, it leads by 21 percent. For users prioritizing raw compute throughput in rendering or scientific workloads, the Ryzen 7 3800XT is the stronger choice based on the evidence.

The Intel Xeon W-2135 is not without merit. Its average benchmark score of 3530 edges out the Ryzen 7 3800XT's 3515, and its Cinebench R20 and R23 scores demonstrate respectable performance in newer rendering tests. The Xeon W-2135 also carries workstation credentials — ECC memory support, quad-channel memory, and 48 PCIe Gen 3 lanes — that the Ryzen 7 3800XT lacks. For users who need those platform features, the Intel part may be the appropriate selection despite its benchmark deficits.

However, strictly from the benchmark data, the Ryzen 7 3800XT wins both direct comparisons. The wins are substantial in multi-core and meaningful in single-core. The overall percentile rankings are identical, but the head-to-head results show the AMD processor delivering more performance in the tested scenarios. The verdict is straightforward: the Ryzen 7 3800XT is the faster processor in every directly compared workload, while the Xeon W-2135 offers platform capabilities that the benchmarks do not measure.

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in multi-core workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT. In Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 2230 compared to the Intel Xeon W-2135's 1230, a delta of -44.8 percent from the Intel part's perspective.

Q: How do the two compare in single-core performance?

A: The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT leads with a Cinebench R15 single-core score of 219, while the Intel Xeon W-2135 scores 173. The delta is -21 percent for the Intel processor.

Q: Do the processors have similar overall benchmark averages?

A: Yes. The Intel Xeon W-2135 has an average benchmark score of 3530, and the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT averages 3515. The difference is less than one percent, and both rank at the 55th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each processor?

A: The Xeon W-2135's nearest rivals include the Intel Core i3-12300 with an average score of 3532 and the Intel Core i5-10600K at 3533. The Ryzen 7 3800XT's nearest rivals include the Intel Atom x7213RE at 3520 and the Intel Xeon E-2176G at 3502. Each lists the other as a nearby competitor.

Q: Does the Intel Xeon W-2135 have any benchmark wins?

A: In the direct head-to-head data, the Intel processor wins zero benchmarks. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT wins both available tests.

Q: What additional benchmarks are available for the Ryzen 7 3800XT?

A: The AMD chip has 3DMark scores for 16 threads (6307), 2 threads (1475), 4 threads (2795), 8 threads (4743), max threads (6294), and single thread (748). It also has Geekbench scores of 8561 multi-core and 1773 single-core.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The Intel Xeon W-2135 uses the Skylake architecture, specifically the Skylake-W codename, built on a 14 nm process at Intel's own foundry. It is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz. The die size is 484 mm², reflecting a monolithic design. The AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT uses the Zen 2 architecture with the Matisse 2 codename, built on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. The die size is 74 mm², and the transistor count is 3,800 million.

Cache configurations differ substantially. The Intel part has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 8.25 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part also has 64 KB of L1 per core but only 512 KB of L2 per core, while its L3 cache is 32 MB. The larger L3 on the AMD chip is a notable architectural difference, likely contributing to its single-core advantage in the benchmarks.

Memory support also diverges. The Xeon W-2135 supports DDR4 memory with a quad-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 85.3 GB/s. It also supports ECC memory. The Ryzen 7 3800XT supports DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and a memory bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s, with no ECC support. The Intel part's memory bandwidth is significantly higher, which may benefit memory-intensive workloads even though the benchmarks do not directly test this.

PCIe capabilities differ as well. The Xeon W-2135 offers PCIe Gen 3 with 48 lanes from the CPU. The Ryzen 7 3800XT offers PCIe Gen 4, though the lane count is not specified in the data. The Intel processor is not multiplier-unlocked, while the AMD processor is multiplier-unlocked, allowing for easier overclocking. The Intel part is marked as end-of-life, while the AMD part is active in production.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across several key specifications. Core count: the Intel Xeon W-2135 has 6 cores, while the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT has 8. Thread count: 12 versus 16. Base clock: 3.70 GHz versus 3.80 GHz. Boost clock: 4.50 GHz versus 4.70 GHz. Thermal design power: 140 watts versus 105 watts. Socket: Intel Socket 2066 versus AMD Socket AM4. Process node: 14 nm versus 7 nm. Foundry: Intel versus TSMC.

Memory bus: quad-channel versus dual-channel. Memory bandwidth: 85.3 GB/s versus 51.2 GB/s. ECC support: yes versus no. PCIe generation: Gen 3 versus Gen 4. Market segment: Server/Workstation versus Desktop. Production status: End-of-life versus Active. Release date: 2017-08-28 versus 2020-07-06. Launch MSRP: $835 versus $399. Multiplier unlocked: no versus yes.

L2 cache per core: 1 MB versus 512 KB. L3 cache: 8.25 MB shared versus 32 MB. Die size: 484 mm² versus 74 mm². The Intel part has no listed transistor count, while the AMD part lists 3,800 million. The Intel processor's part number is SR3LN, and the AMD processor's part number is 100-100000279WOF. The Intel part belongs to the Xeon W generation with the Skylake-W codename, while the AMD part belongs to the Ryzen 7 generation with the Zen 2 (Matisse) codename.